Bulldozer blade tilting device



G. H. FELT, .1R

BULLDOZERl BLADE TILTING DEVICE 5 sheets-sheet 1 Dec. 10, 1940.

Filgd Jan. 19, 1939 LNVENTOR Geoff/(Alf. clf Jl' ATToRNEY nWITNESSES clim@ Dec. 10, 1940. G. H. FELT, .1R

' BULLDOZER- BLADE TILTING DEVICE 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. A19,

- INVENTOR WITNESSES ATTORNEYS Dec. 1o, 1940. G, H, FELT, JR 2,224,725

` iNvENTOR Y vll-masses l @ewige 122175256154.

Patentedl Dec. l0, 1940 f UNITED sTATEs PATENT OFFICE 2,224,125 nmmozna BLADE mmc nnvlcn George H. Felt, ir.,- Rosebnrg, mg. application :mum 1s. 1939, serial No. 251,685

ranma. (Cl. 37-144) This invention relates to a device which is designed and adapted to adjust the material moving blade of a machine such as a bulldozer, trail builder, and closely analogous automotive vehicles and tractors used for the purpose ,of leveling, grading, backiilling'road ilnishing, ditching. and trail building.

The principal object l'of the inventionvis the provision of a device of the indicated character which gives the operator control of the tilting as well as the raising and lowering of the material moving blade.

' A further object of the invention is a device as characterized which provides a single manipulatable control lever at the operators seat with which the material moving blade can be simultaneously\ti lted and raised or lowered without stopping lthinachine.`

With the foregoing, other objects oi' the invenl tion will appear from the embodiment thereof described in the following specification, defined as to scope in the appended claims and illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings, in which:

35 Fig. l is a perspective viewof a bulldozer attached to a tractor shownin dotted lines, selected to illustrate the device ofthe present invention shown in .full lines applied thereto;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on the line .2-2 of Fig. 3 and looking in the direction indicated by the arrows;

Fig. 3 is a plan view showing certain features of the device;

Fig, 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3 and looking in the direction indicated by the arrows;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but showing the blade tilted to the right and corresponding disposition of the tilting means all in dotted lines,

and also showing'the blade tilted to the left and corresponding disposition of the tilting means in full lines;

LFig. 6 is a diagrammatic view partly insection of the hydraulic system andlever means for tilt.

ing as well as raising and lowering the blade;

' Fig. 'I is a view similar to Fig. 2 butshowing a modiiled form of blade tilting means; Y

Fig. 8 is a view illustrating the connections between parts of the manipulatable control means.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings it will -be apparent that there is shown in dotted lines an automotive vehicle I0 in the'nature of a'tractor whichlamong other things in-- cludesa power plant orengine I l. A supporting frame I2 is positioned to extend forwardly.

'ment oi' the frame. I2 on the axis provided by the pivots I5; that it can be canted right and frame is substantially of U shape and consists of side members I2 in parallel relation to each other and a forward portion I4 connecting said members I2. The rear ends of the members i2 are each pivotally connected as indicated at II to a 5 fixed bracket 'Il on the nmning gear o f the vehicle.v 'Ihe frame I2 is thus mounted to be raised and lowered on a horizontal axis which is disposed transversely or at a lright angle with respect tothe longitudinal axis of the vehicle. A 10 mould-board or blade head Il is disposed transversely of the frame I2 in advance ofthe portion I4. Itis mounted to rock or be canted on an axis perpendicular -to the longitudinal axis of the frame I2 by means of a pivot bolt I8v which l5 extends through spacedlugs I9 on the mouldboard I'l andprojecting rearwardly therefrom,- and also througha block 2li positioned between said lugs I8. The block 2li has formed integral therewith or otherwise secured thereto a stud bolt 2| which loosely ilts in a hole in the frame portion I4, there being a nut 22 on the stud to hold the block 20 against the portion I4. The stud 2l is disposed at a right angle to the bolt I8 and parallel to the longitudinal axis of the frame 25 I2. So disposed'the stud 2| serves as a pivot on which the mould-board may be tilted right and left on an axis disposed at a right angle to the axis on which the frame I2 is raised and lowered.

The mould-board or head I1 carries a blade 23 20 which projects forwardly e and downwardly in continuation of the concaved surface thereof. It is therefore understood that the bladev 22 can be l raised and lowered by reason of thepivotal moveleft by reason of the axis provided by the boit Il; and that it can betilted right andleft by reason of the axis provided by the stud 2|. f

In order to retain the blade 22 disposed trans-v versely lat a right. angle to the longitudinal axis oi the frame I2 or be 4retained in right or left cantedpositionwith .respect to said axis, there are provided channel retaining'.V bars 24 between the side members I3 respectively of the frame I2 and the mould-board I1. The latter has a rectangular rearwardly projecting flange 2l. The forward end of each bar 24 is apertured to slidably receive an arcuatev rod 26 secured at the fopposite ends to the upper and lower portions so respectively of the ilange 25. -The' rearward end of eachbar 24 carries a pin 21 which is receivable in holes 2l in the relatedside member i2. f Hydraulic mechanism is employed for the pur--` pose of raising and lowering the frame I2. j tfhis gs mechanism is shown most clearly in Figs. 1 and 6. It includes a reservoir 29 in which the main supply of the oil or other liquid is contained. A pump 38 circulates the liquid or oil under pressure. A valve 3i serves for controlling the ow of oil to pivotally mounted cylinders 32. The pump 30 is connected to be constantly operated by the crankshaft of the engine II. The pump is connected in a conduit 33 which has one end connected with the outlet ofthe reservoir 26 and the other end is connected with the casing 39 of the valve 3l in communication with an inlet 35 to one chamber 36 deiined by said casing 34. The casing has outlets 31, 38, 39, 40 and 4I respectively which communicate with the chamber 36. A slide 42 operates in the chamber 36 and has a passage or port' 43, and a rod 44 which projects exteriorly of the casing. A branched exible conduit 45 is connected between the utlet 31 and the cylinders'32 for conveying oil to said cylinders for the frame raising operation. A branched flexible conduit 46 is connected between the outlet 38 and the cylinders 32 for conveying oil to the cylinders for the frame lowering operation. Pistons 41 are movable in the cylinders 32 resctively. Each piston 41 has a rod 48 projecting forwardly through one end of its cylinder and said rod is pivotally connected as at 49 with a lever 58 fulcrumed on the vehicle. The lever 50 is pivotally connected as at 5I with one end of .a link 52 whose opposite end is pivotally connected as at 53 with a side member i3 on one side of the vehicle, it being understood -therefis similar provision and arrangement on both sides. When the slide 42 is moved to its down position the `pori; 43 will be in registry with the inlet 36 and the outlet 31. Oil will then ow under pressure from the pump 30 to the cylinders 32 through the conduit 33, inlet 35, port 43, outlet 31, and conduit 45. This will move the pistons 41 forwardly and through the intervention of the rods 48, levers 56 and links 52 will raise the frame I 2 and parts carried thereby including the blade. When the slide 42 is moved to its up position bringing the port 43 into registry with the inlet 35 and outlet 38, oil will flow under pressure from the pump 38 to the cylinders 32 through the conduit 33, inlet 35, port 43, outlet 38 and conduit 46. This will cause a reverse operation of the pistons 41, levers 50 and links 52 thereby lowering the frame I2. Return flow of the oil to the reservoir 29 in these operations will be explained hereinafter.

The features hereinabove described are conventional and are important only as employed in conjunction with the present invention.

The present invention contemplates the utiliza tion of the hydraulic mechanism hereinabove described with additions thereto for the purpose of raising and lowering the material moving blade or tilting it selectively or performing both of these operations simultaneously, and in accordance therewith there are provided means as follows:

The valve 3| is of duplex construction. The casing 34 denes a separate chamber 54 in which a slide 55 operates. The slide 55 has a port 56 and a' jointed rod 51 which projects exteriorly of the casing 34. The casing has an inlet 58 and outlets 59, 68, 6I, 62 and 63, in communication with the chamber 54. A branched conduit 64 establishes communication between the outlets 39, 40 and 4I and the inlet 58. A branched conduit- 65 establishes communication between the outlets 6I, 62 and 63 and the inlet of the reservoir 29 for return ow of oil thereto. A cylinder 66 has one end connected with thc ilange 25 of the the engine I I.

mould-board by a universal joint 61 or the like, in order that the cylinder may have pivotal movement. A piston 68 operates in the cylinder 66, and'has a rod 69 which projects exteriorly of the cylinder end opposite its pivoted end. The outer extremity of the rod 69 is pivotally connected with a connecting rod or link 10 by means of a pivot bolt 1I engaged with an offset 12 xed to the rod 69. The opposite ends of the rod 10 are pivotally connected as at 13 respectively with bell-crank levers 14 fulcrumed on brackets 15 fixed on the flange 25. Yokes 16 are engaged with the arcuate rods 26 respectively, so that the latter may slide with respect to the former, and said yokes are positioned between the anges of the bars 24 respectively so as to` be immovable with respect to said bars. The yokes 16 are disposed adjacent the levers 14 respectively, and a link 11 has one end pivotally connected as at 18 with each of the levers 14 and its opposite end pivotally connected as at 19 with a lug projecting from the related yoke16.

Now in looking at Fig. 2, in which the blade is disposed horizontal, it will be seen that movement of the piston 68 to the left will cause the blade to tilt down toward the right side, because vthe lugs 80 being the stationary parts cause the right lever 14 to bear down on its brackets 15 and the left lever 14 to pull up on its bracket 15, as the rod 10 moving longitudinaJly to the left causes the levers 14 to move in unison counter-clockwise on their fulcrums, the links 11 contributing in the operation by resisting the pivotal movement of the levers 14. By moving the piston 68 to the right, a reverse operation of the parts will occur with the result that the blade will be tilted down toward the left side.

The movement of the piston 68 is accomplished as follows: A conduit 8| exible in whole or in part establishes communication between the outlet 59 and the interior of the cylinder 66 at one end, and another like conduit82 establishes communication between the outlet 60 and the interior of the cylinder 66 at the other end. When the slide 55 is moved to its down position ythe port 56 will be in registry with the inlet 58 inlet 35, port 43, conduit 64, inlet 58, port 66,

outlet 59 and conduit 8| to the cylinder 66. This will cause the piston 68 to move to the right as viewed in Fig. 5, land cause the blade 23 to tilt down 'at the left as shown in full lines. When the slide 55 is moved to its up position the port 56 will be in registry with the inlet 56 and the outlet 60 permitting oil under pressure to flow from the pump 30 through conduit 33, inlet 35, port 43, conduit 64, inlet 58, port 56, outlet 60 and conduit 82 to the cylinder 66. This will cause the piston 68 to move to the left and cause the blade 23 to tilt down at the right as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 5. It is understood that the stud bolt 2I provides the axis on which the blade tilts.

When the slides 42 and 55 are in their intermediate positions, the port 43 of the slide 42 will be in registry with the inlet 35 and the outlet 40, whereas the port 56 of the slide 55 will be in registry with the inlet 58 and the-outlet 62. This will permit free circulation of the oil in the system while the pump 36 is in operation by The arrows on the conduits 33, 64 and 65 indicate the direction of now of the oil in Fig. 6, which latter also illustrates the this condition theframe l2 and blade will be held in the position to which they have been adjusted. Back flow of oil from the cylinders 22 is prevented by the slides 42 and 0I when in their intermediate position as appears in Fig. 6. However, when the slide 42 is in its down position to raise the frame I2, oil will be permitted to return ilow from the cylinders`22, through out1et'4l, conduit 64, inlet 58, port 59, conduit 07E/to the reservoir 29. When the slide 42 is in /its up position to-lower the frame I2,

oil 'willy be permitted'to return litlow from the other ends of the cylinders 22 through outlet 29, conduit 94, etc., as set forth above. When the slide/55 is in its down position to cause the blade totilt down toward the left, oil will be permitted to/return flow from the cylinder 09 through conduit 02, outlet 90, chamber B4, outlet 92, con- /duit $5 to the reservoir 29. When the slide 55 is in its up position t'o Acause the blade to tilt down toward the right, oil will be permitted to return flow from the other end of the cylinder 60, throughconduit I, outlet 59, chamber 04, outlet 9|, conduit 95 to the reservoir v29. By return iiow, as used hereinabove, is meant the free ow of oil from one end of each cylinder as oil under pressure is being forced in its opposite end to positively effect the movement of the piston therein for the desired adjustment of the frame A I2 and/or blade 22, as the case may be.

.In order to effect the desired movement of the slides 42 and Il lto control the flow of oil for the intended adjustment of the frame I2 and 09 opposite that having the joint 01. By manipulatlngv the lever 22 in the directions indicated by the arrow 92, the slide 42 may be moved up or down to raise or lower the frame .I2 without moving the slide Ii and hence without affecting the adjustment of the blade 22. By

manipulating the lever 92 in the directions indicated by the arrow 92, the slide llmay be moved up or down to tilt the blade 22 -left or right without moving the slide 42 and hence without affecting the adjustment of ther frame I2. It is to be understood that the blade 22 may v be readily brought to a horizontal position by moving the slide l to its intermediate podtion after the piston 00 has been moved one way or thefother to bring the blade 22 in the horizontal position. f

The lever 00 maybemanipulated to simultaneously turn the rod 22 and tilt the rod 00 thereby moving the slides 42 and- Il at the same time. As a consequence the blade 22 may be tilted as desired while the frame I2 is being raised or lowered. l

InFlg. "I there is shown a modiiied form of blade tilting means; Use 'is made of. cylinders 94 and 95 respectively. -Each of these cylindersv 'has its end pivotally connected as vat 92. with themculd-'bccrd-H. piccolissima as are disposed in the-cylinders and 9| respectively.

@piston Il has a rod 99 which projects downi Pimm www u, ct. Il! with im ton 99 has a rod. |02 which is pivotally connected as at |02 with a lug |04 .on the other bar 24.

'Ihe upper ends of the cylinders 94 and 95 are connected by a conduit |05 to establish communication between the interiors thereof to equalize pressure therein. 'I'he conduit 9| is connected with the lower end of the cylinder 94 to convey oii-thereinto,l whereas the lconduit 92 is connected with the lower end' of the cylinder 95 to convey cil thereinto. Oil under pressure pumped through conduit 9| will enter the lower end of the cylinder 94 against the piston 9'I and will react on the lower end of the cylinder 94 causing the mould-board and its blade 23 to tilt down toward the left. Oil under pressure pumped through conduit 92 will enter the lower end of the cylinder 95 against the piston 98 and will ,react on the lower end ofthe cylinder causing the mould-board and its blade 22 to tilt down toward the right, as indicated in d ot and dash lines in Fig. 7.

It is to be understood that details of construction may be modiiied and rearranged without departing from the spirit of the invention as `de ilned in the claims.

I claim:

4 l. A tilting device of the character disclosed comprising adjustable slde`bars, a tiltable material moving element connected with said bars so as to be mo'ved to different angular positions with respect to said bars upon adjustment of the latter, levers fulcrumed on Asaid element, links pivotally connected with: said levers respectively and pivotally connected with said bars respectively, a rod whose opposite ends are pivotally connected respectively with said levers,- and means connected with said element and rod to move the rod in opposite ldirections to operate said levers to tilt said element.

2. A material moving device for use with a tractor or analogous vehicles, comprising an angularly adjustable frame,l a blade tiltably mounted on the front `end of said frame, and mechanism operable to tilt-said blade, said mechanism including levers connected respectively with opposite sides of` said framejand with the blade, a rod having its opposite ends pivotally connected respectively with said levers, and hydraulic means connected with said rod and blade to cause the rod to move longitudinally in opposite 4. A tilting device for the character disclosed comprising a frame, a material moving element connected respectively'with said levers, a iiuid 'cylinder havingone of its ends pivotally connected with said element,l a'pi'ton movable in I scifi rcylinder'cm1 .naviguent 'rod proiectinc tiltably mounted on thei'rame, levers fulcrumed through the other end ofthe cylinder, the outer end of the piston rod being pivotally connected with said rst rod, and conduits connected with the opposite ends respectively of said cylinder to convey uid under presure to the interior of said cylinder to operate the piston, rst rod, levers and links to tilt said element.

5. In a device of the character disclosed, in combination with an automotive vehicle, `a frame connected with the vehicle to have pivotal movement, a material moving blade tiltably connected with the frame, and hydraulic mechanism to raise and lower the frame and also to tilt the blade, said mechanism including a cylinder and a piston operable therein, means connecting the cylinder with the blade, and means connecting the piston with the blade and frame.

6. In a device of the character disclosed, in combination with an automotive vehicle, a trame connected with the vehicle to have pivotal movement, a material moving blade tilt'ably connected with the trame, and hydraulic mechanism to raise and lower the frame and also to tilt the blade, said mechanism including a cylinder and a piston operable therein at each end of the blade and said cylinder and piston being pivotally connected respectively by suitable means with the blade and frame between the same.

'7. In a device of the character disclosed, in combination with an automotive vehicle, a frame connected with the vehicle to have pivotal movement, a material moving blade tiltably connected with the frame, and hydraulic mechanism to raise and lower the frame and also to tilt the blade with respect to said frame, said mechanism i cluding a cylinder and a piston operable therein, and said cylinder and piston being pivotally connected respectively by suitable means with the blade and frame between the same.

GEORGE H. FELT, JR. 

